Through innovative clinical research, high-quality care and state-of-the-art treatments the Heart & Vascular Hospital at HackensackUMC has made great strides to address the most common cause of death in the United States, cardiovascular disease.

The HackensackUMC Foundation recently unveiled the Wilcha Family Conference Room in the Heart & Vascular Hospital, in which the construction of the room was made possible by a generous donation from Patricia and John Wilcha of Franklin Lakes. Funding for the audiovisual technology in the room was provided by Terry and Francis McGrath of Bedminster and Carol and Bobby Williams of Saddle River.

“This new conference room is an important component in HackensackUMC’s mission to provide the best possible and highest-quality healthcare,” said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Health Network. “One of the main features allows physicians and students who are in the conference room to view procedures underway in the cardiac catheterization lab. The equipment also connects to the outside world, allowing the sharing of best practices with other medical centers around the globe.”

“I strongly believe this new conference room will transform the way our physicians communicate with one another and foster a truly collaborative environment within our teaching hospital,” said Joseph Parrillo, M.D., chairman, Heart & Vascular Hospital at HackensackUMC. “The video conferencing capability will ensure the ideas shared and generated in this new forum will travel far and result in better care for heart patients everywhere.”

Each year, more than seven million cardiovascular operations and procedures are performed in this country, and it is estimated that 82 million Americans are living with some form of cardiovascular disease.

“This technologically advanced conference room cost more than $350,000 to build,” said Jon M. Fitzgerald, executive vice president and chief development officer, HackensackUMC Foundation. “We sincerely thank the Wilcha, McGrath and Williams families for their generous support in making this important project a reality. HackensackUMC has always focused on investing in research and technology for the future and this conference room will undoubtedly enhance the care we provide to our cardiac patients.”

The Heart & Vascular Hospital, which opened in 2011, is one of America’s most comprehensive cardiac and vascular care centers. It provides a full-range of state-of-the-art invasive and non-invasive services, including electrophysiology studies, a state-designated cardiac catheterization center, and one of the largest cardiac surgery programs in the state. Inpatients and outpatients are treated for all types of cardiac and vascular diseases by a world-class team of Magnet®-award winning nurses, nurse practitioners, technicians, specialized personnel, and more than 140 cardiologists, which provide the highest quality of care.

HackensackUMC was the first hospital in Northern New Jersey to offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement or TAVR and the first hospital in New Jersey to be approved for both transapical TAVR and transfemoral TAVR under Dr. Parrillo’s leadership.

The HackensackUMC Foundation recently unveiled the Wilcha Family Conference Room in the Heart & Vascular Hospital at HackensackUMC. From left to right: Joseph E. Parrillo, M.D., chairman, Heart & Vascular Hospital; John and Patricia Wilcha of Franklin Lakes; Robert C. Garrett, Hackensack University Health Network; Bobby and Carol Williams of Saddle River; Francis and Terry McGrath of Bedminster; and Jon M. Fitzgerald, executive vice president and chief development officer, HackensackUMC Foundation.

About Hackensack University Medical Center

HackensackUMC, a 775- bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county’s first hospital, it is the flagship hospital of Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,717 beds, more than 10,000 team members and 3,300 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015-16 Best Hospital rankings - maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. It was also named one of the top four New York Metro Area hospitals. HackensackUMC is the only hospital in New Jersey, New York and New England to be named one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ nine consecutive years, and receive the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 13 years in a row. The medical center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 24 Gold Seals of Approval™ by The Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its fifth consecutive designation in 2014. HackensackUMC has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: the John Theurer Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women’s and Children’s Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women’s Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and listed on the Green Guide’s list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to The Barclays PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.

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